Barrows Goldeneye at Des Moines Marina

This Barrow’s Goldeneye was photographed at the Des Moines Marina. The Marina is located on the east side of the East Passage of Puget Sound. After having lunch with friends at Wally’s Chowder House Broiler, I decided to check out the marina since I had never been to it before, I had all my camera gear since we had just left Nisqually NWR. Once surveying the choppy waters we spotted a flocks of Goldeneyes swimming in the surf with Surf Scoters.

The Goldeneye is medium-sized black-and-white diving duck. It has a purplish-black head with bright crescent-shaped white patch on side of face at base of bill, thin at top, rounded at bottom. Sides, breast, belly, bright white. There is a series of white squares along sides right above the wings. Their bills are solid black while juveniles are mostly grey with brownish heads similar to the way females look. These ducks are migratory and mostly winter in protected coastal waters or open inland waters along the coast. As with many other species of sea ducks, Barrow’s Goldeneye, rely on urbanized, coastal estuaries to support their migration patterns.

For more pictures from the marina check out my Des Moines Marina Gallery.